KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian married couple have been charged with attempting to traffic some 9 kilograms of marijuana over a two week period, court officials told Bikyamasr.com on Tuesday. The couple, Mohamed Ridzuan Ab Majid, 31, and Siti Mariyam Mohd Isa, 24, reportedly committed the crime at the Sri Pangkor Flats in Sentul and were arrested earlier this month. The couple, who are water filter salespeople, were jointly charged under Section 39B (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. No plea was recorded from them and Magistrate Nur Azura Murah fixed August 27 for remention pending the chemist report. Deputy Public Prosecutor Kee Wei Lon prosecuted and Zamani Mokhtar appeared for the accused. Activists and human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the Malaysian government to end the death penalty in cases of drug crimes, but the government has thus far refused to acquiesce to the demands, despite evidence being reported that shows capital punishment is not a deterrent to drug trafficking.
